Bagwell’s day

Jeff Bagwell represented all the right things. That’s the thing the Astros attempted to say again and again Sunday afternoon. How do you honor someone like that? For one thing, you don’t allow another player to wear his number.

The Astros guaranteed that would never happen when Bagwell’s Number 5 was retired forever in a pre-game ceremony filled with emotion and respect at Minute Maid Park. He’s the eighth Astro to be so honored. Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 has also been retired by all of baseball.

”It’s an amazing day,” Bagwell said.

He thanked clubhouse attendants, current and former players and the like.

”I can truly say I’ve made so many great friends because of this game,” Bagwell said. ”You guys have made me better. I’ve had so much fun over the years.”

He was joined by Craig Biggio and Brad Ausmus and a distinguished list of former Astros, including Larry Dierker, Jimmy Wynn and Mike Scott. His long-time agent, Barry Axelrod, was also on hand with Baqwell’s family and members of the Astros front office.

Turning toward Biggio, he said: ”I wouldn’t be here without you. I’m a better player and a better teammate because of you.”

His closest friend on the team, Brad Ausmus, seemed to speak for an entire clubhouse and perhaps an entire city.

”He was the quintessential teammate,” Brad Ausmus told fans. ”He was a superstar who always put the team before himself. Between he and (Biggio), they always shouldered the blame when he struggled and deflected the credit when we won.

”Jeff has an ability to relate to every single player in that clubhouse. He always knows what to say, and he always lifts your spirits. He was never a loud voice in the clubhouse. He didn’t hold a lot of team meetings. He led quietly. I’ve never been around a player who garnered so much respect in the clubhouse.

”On a personal note, he has been like a big brother. When I was down, he picked me up. When I was up, he knocked me down. We had a lot of laughs, a lot of good times and a lot of arguments. The one thing that keeps coming back in my mind about Jeff is that because I played with him I’m a better player, and more importantly, a better teammate. Any person who sat in that clubhouse with him or put on a uniform with him would tell you the exact same thing.”

32 Responses

Thank you Jeff Bagwell for who you are, how you played the game, being as great a ball player as you are. I’m proud to say I saw you play, and given the chance some day, I’ll shake your hand to say thank you

I guess Uncle Drayton got the message when Purpura was introduced. I have never heard a home crowd boo one of their own so imphaticaly.. A well deserved reception in my opinion! Purpura has nearly destroyed this team and the Astros minor league system. Now I’m sure Mclane has had a hand in all of this but the bottom line is the GM until we can prove exactly what Mclane’s part in this mess is! The entire organization needs a house cleaning!

I was at the game this afternoon, it was a truly magical experience, espcially for a 23 year old who has never really known anything except Biggio and Bagwell. HOWEVER! I would like to point out, that even though Purpura may have deserved it, and maybe he stinks at his job, but that was the most absolutely CLASSLESS thing I have ever seen. And to be honest, I was completely shocked and disappointed in the people that booed him. There is a time and a place for that sort of thing, and this CLEARLY was NOT it. That was disgusting and if you booed him you should be disgusted with yourself. This was supposed to be one of the most special days in the life of the Houston Astros, why would you bring any negativity to it?

But I would like to thank Jeff Bagwell for everything he has done for this city, and this franchise. He is truly one of the greatest players to ever play, and will not soon be forgotten. A special man, who was always under appreciated because of who he was, and the city he thrived in, but a for sure Hall of Famer to anyone who really knows what baseball is all about. He was exactly what baseball is all about.

I wish I could have been there, but I was in spirit. Bags and Bidge were the heart of the team for so long and six months from now, when Spring Training starts (I’m trying to fast-forward through this season), neither one will be on the field. What a different team we are already.

I know Ausmus will never get his number retired, but he’s a class act and a funny guy. The players could benefit from him (and Bags) as coaches and leaders.

Thanks, Number 5, and congratulations. Hope to see you in Cooperstown someday, which is a much shorter trip for me.

For me it was a privilage to attend the retiring of Jeff’s #5 today,as it was a privilage and a pleasure to watch Bagwell play all those years.I also had the honor of having my picture taken with the great and obliging Jimmy Wynn before the game.The Toy Cannon was my first Astro idol back when I was 7 years old,so today was very special for me for a number of reasons.Thanks for the memories Jeff,Jimmy,Craig,Nolan,Larry,and all Astros past and present who have given me so much joy in my life by seeing them do their thing.I couldn’t imagine my life without my love of baseball and “my” Astros in it,during good seasons and bad.It’s hard to believe the Jeff Bagwell era is officially over,with Craig Biggio’s not far behind,but wasn’t it fun while they lasted?

But who was the idiot that thought it was a good idea to introduce him or even have him out there? It was ahrdly a shock he would be booed…unless maybe Drayton and the front office are that out of touch..

Astros management has effectively positioned Purpura as the scapegoat for all-things wrong with the Astros. Drayton is quite the brilliant man. But, how many more times do they have to embarrass him with these ceremonies before enough public abuse is enough?

Bagwell was an awesome Astro and worthy of Cooperstown. He averaged 32 HR’s his 14 full seasons and hit high for avg., RBI’s, runs scored, stole bases and played a great defensive first base the predominance of his career. Much of his great performance was in Astrodome Cavern, and this was during the “juiced” era, where Bagwell’s head structure and body frame didn’t become freakish like some of the other big hitters who are being mulled over for future Hall enshrinement. The dome performances Bagwell had as a hitter are very notable, if you consider on the other side of the ball- where pitchers like Jose Lima were All-Star in the dome but imploded at “Homeron” Field (MMP); and even Billy Wagner had far and away the worst year of his career after leaving the dome. The year Bagwell had in 1994 was one of the best of all time, with a .750 slugging pct. and stats that over a full time season would have equated to 60 HR’s and 160-170 RBI’s (again while playing half the games in the dome).

Morgan, Wynn, Watson, Cedeno, Staub, Davis, etc. gave us much to admire and cheer about but Bagwell was truly a special talent. If anyone knows strategies for starting to make noise about him being in the Hall, please let us know.

Bagwell is a class act. He not only acknowledged his wife and daughters, but EVERYONE else; parents, MMP workers, team mates, AND FANS. The fans who choose to boo Mr. Purpura on this day of Bags will be remembered for being rude, and having NO MANNERS. Learn that there is a time and a place for everything.

I appreciate all that Jeff has done for the city and the teams that he has been a part of. Too bad that the Astros did not win the world series that year but he has nothing to be ashamed of. I consider him to be the ultimate professional. Now, after saying that, I agree with Steve… could he have at least tucked his shirt in??? I know he is extremely, filthy weathy and could not care less what others think of him but, come on, even his parents were in the stands. Dress for the occassion.

For those who booed T. Pup…. Wish I had been there to join in. To those who say it was disgraceful to Jeff… Hey, T. Pup had nothing to do with Jeff coming over to the Astros and had nothing to do with Jeff being brought to the big club… Thank Heavens!!!

What a fabulous ceremony. I, too, was disappointed to hear the boos when Purpura was introduced, but not surprised. I remember being so embarrassed at the All-Star game in ’04 when Jimy Williams was booed during his introduction. Of course, Williams was fired shortly after that…

I was there today, and the fact that Timmy got booed didn’t take away ANYTHING from the ceremony. Baggy was loved by the fans and they showed it. Several standing o’s…And Timmy was only booed for about 10 seconds..Being and Astro fan and a HUGE bagwell fan, I think the boo was in order and who knows, it could light a fire under Drayton’s ass.

All is all, Jeff was the reason I started fallowing the Stros and I can only hope his attitude and passion for baseball rubs off on this NEW astro team.

RLH- Since you have implied you have details on Jeff’s personal life, and have used this forum to “call him out”, why don’t you give us the details of what you are really trying to say? If you are not willing to do that, perhaps it would be better to say nothing.

“I also had the honor of having my picture taken with the great and obliging Jimmy Wynn before the game.The Toy Cannon was my first Astro idol back when I was 7 years old,so today was very special for me for a number of reasons.”

He is the reason I became an Astro fan and remain one to this day – even though I live 1600 miles away and have all my life. I was fortunate enough to have been in town on business the night they announced he would have his number retired and was sitting about ten rows behind him and Drayton. Had no idea that was going to happen and got chills that some higher power put me in the right place at the right time.

Of course we lost 1-0 in 12 innings that night, but hey – you can’t have everything.

Does anyone remember all the whining Bagwell used to do around signing time? Does anyone remember how he used the media to tell us how disrespected he was? I guess it is never enough to pay a guy $150 million to play a kid’s game. Does anyone remember when the Astros paid him all that money how he would suddenly start batting .086 during the playoffs. Does anyone remember all those great solo shots he used to hit when the team was down 15-2 in a game, but would strike out earlier in the game when the bases were loaded? I remember and I hope he never gets in the Hall. What a baby.

Speaking of respect, Bagwell even tried to hold the Astros hostage last year. The guy couldn’t throw from 1st base to home for the last couple years. His shoulder got bad enough to affect his hitting. What did we hear. Same old thing: Jeff Bagwell was going to do what was best for Jeff Bagwell, not the Astros. It has been that way his whole career. The only time the guy spoke up was when it was contract signing time. Then all we heard was how we were disrespecting him. Clubhouse leader? Please. The only guy who should get into the Hall is Biggio. He played whereever they told him to play. He was smart enough to let Bagwell be the whiny baby during contract time, and then sign right after him quietly, for about the same money. He hustled every play, even today. He came through in the clutch. He never used the media. That’s the guy who should have had his jersey retired. Bagwell is lucky he had a class act as a boss in Drayton McClane and a friend in Biggio. Biggio is probably the reason Bagwell had his number retired to begin with.